Clouds and Moon Shadow

Chapter 365 The Unruly Wolf

"Go to sleep, Yue has worked hard today," Mu Yun Chu gently placed Gu Qing Yue on the bed, pulled up the blanket, and lay down on her side next to Gu Qing Yue, her eyes quietly looking at the woman's lively eyebrows and fair, jade-like face, her heart filled with tenderness.

"Okay, sure," Gu Qingyue was really tired, and she fell asleep almost as soon as she closed her eyes.

When I opened my eyes in the morning, there was no one beside me.

She touched it and found it was still slightly warm. Gu Qingyue found it amusing that this guy had come to sleep with her and hadn't even left yet.

This noon, she had arranged to go to Wenxianglou with her family to sample the dishes. Gu Qingyue went to Wenxianglou early after having breakfast.

Around noon, Qin, along with Wei and Tang-ge, got off the carriage and were led by Gu Qingyue to the elegant room on the third floor.

Besides the coffee table, there are two large dining tables behind the partition screen.

The entire setup is understated yet luxurious, elegant and comfortable.

A quarter of an hour later, the four Gu brothers entered Wenxiang Tower together, with the old Duke arriving last.

The family chatted and laughed as they toured the upstairs and downstairs houses, as well as the independent tea house in the backyard.

The old Duke nodded affirmatively, looking at Gu Qingyue with the gratification of "my daughter has finally grown up," almost to the point of tears.

However, I'm still very happy that he now has another teahouse where he can gather and chat with his old friends. That's wonderful!

"Grandfather, let's go upstairs and have something to eat first. Your granddaughter's cooking is delicious."

Gu Qingyue changed the subject, clinging to the old Duke's arm and acting coquettishly. Little Tang saw this, and the little guy came over with his chubby little legs, hugged Gu Qingyue's legs, stretched out his chubby little hands, and blushed shyly. The whole family burst out laughing.

The atmosphere here was pleasant, but in the main courtyard of the main house, Liu, who was still barely keeping her senses up, was not so happy.

"Is it true that she's decided to go tomorrow?" Madam Liu asked Wang, the trembling old woman who stood by the bed, trying to muster her spirits.

"It's true, the steward of the front courtyard has sent word that they're already preparing for tomorrow's departure," Wang Mama said with great certainty.

"Give the order—give the order to destroy that bitch tomorrow, and...and that little bitch too," Liu's pale face flushed slightly with excitement.

"Yes," Wang Mama bowed tremblingly.

If someone unaware of the true situation saw the pitiful state of the master and servant, they might feel deep sympathy.

But if Gu Qingyue were here, she would only say: They're all old, weak, sick, and disabled, so they should just give up and stop thinking about harming others, or God will really strike.

The atmosphere was also tense in the Imperial Study.

The old emperor had just emerged from the pass when a palace attendant reported that Prince Jing, Prince Li, the Eighth Prince, and the Third Prince of Yue were requesting an audience.

Upon meeting her, the Eighth Prince Mu Yunwen knelt down and begged for a marriage between him and Princess Lianfu, claiming that the two were in love and hoping that the Emperor would grant their wish.

"You scoundrel, is this really true?" The old emperor, who already disliked the eighth prince, was furious upon hearing this. "You dare to secretly pledge your love to Princess Lianfu? How dare you!"

The emperor already disliked Lianfu's performance last time, finding it too hypocritical and pretentious.

But thinking of the concubines in the palace now, apart from one or two who are relatively young, the rest are all over forty years old.

Then he remembered that Princess Lianfu was young and beautiful with a graceful figure, and it would be good to add her to the harem. So before he left the pass, he had already decided to add Lianfu to the harem first, which would also fulfill the marriage alliance between Nanzhao and the Southern Zhao.

Unexpectedly, this rebellious son beat him to it.

"Father, I have pledged my life to Lianfu and will marry no one but her," the Eighth Prince said, kowtowing to the ground with utmost devotion.

The emperor was furious!

King Jing and the Wonders of Yue: ·····

Mu Yun Chu's lips twitched. This eighth brother is not simple either!

With a 'bang,' the paperweight on the emperor's desk was thrown down, narrowly missing the eighth prince's forehead before landing behind him.

"Get out of here!" The emperor's face was ashen, and the lines around his eyes deepened on his already gloomy face.

"Your subject takes his leave," the Eighth Prince immediately said, leaving the Imperial Study.

After walking a bit further, he slowed down, let out a long sigh, and broke out in a cold sweat.

Now he can explain things to Fifth Brother and Third Prince Yue, right? Look how good his attitude is. Besides, he was also tricked last time!

In the imperial study, before Prince Jing could speak, the emperor raised his hand and said, "Fifth Prince, take the Third Prince Yue to the side hall first. I have something to say to the Seventh Prince."

When the emperor saw that Prince Jing had something to say, he immediately raised his hand to interrupt him, his gaze softening as he looked at Prince Jing.

Prince Jing had no idea that what Mu Yun Chu said next completely thwarted his plans, ruining his scheme. As for how furious he became afterward, he could only blame the old emperor's consistent favor towards him.

Upon hearing this, King Jing glanced at Mu Yun Chu, whose expression remained indifferent and calm, without any ripples.

Now, whenever he sees that face, he is reminded that his secret guard commander Pei Jiu and Yue Ji were killed in Lizhou by Lao Qi.

He couldn't help but feel a burning hatred. Although that bitch Yue Ji was actually Yue Zhiqi's person and had deceived him so badly, so be it, Pei Jiu was his person... He couldn't show his hatred and anger.

"Yes," King Jing bowed and left with Yue Zhiqi.

Before leaving, Yue Zhiqi couldn't help but glance at Mu Yun Chu's indifferent face, guessing Mu Yun Chu's intention in seeking out the old emperor.

For a long while, the Imperial Study was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; no one spoke first.

"Do you hate me?" The old emperor slowly leaned back on the dragon throne, raising his eyes and speaking in a chilling tone.

"Your subject dares not," Mu Yun Chu said, bowing respectfully.

A moment later, the emperor's low, cold laugh rang out, his face grim. "Dare not? Then you have."

Mu Yun Chu remained expressionless, her demeanor aloof and cold, like an untamed wolf, her eyes gleaming with a chilling, menacing aura.

“Your subject has no such thing,” Mu Yun Chu continued.

The old emperor knew that by bestowing a title of king upon his son and granting him the fiefdom of Lizhou, he would naturally become a target of Nanzhao. But as a prince of the Great Chu, wasn't this his duty?

He knew that this would inevitably make him a thorn in the side of the other princes, but keeping him out of the vortex of the struggle for the throne was the best arrangement he, as a father, could make for him.

However, he didn't care what Mu Yun Chu thought at all; wasn't he the emperor of this Great Chu?!

"Very well, what brings you to the palace today?" The old emperor raised his hand, instinctively unwilling to hear any explanation from his son.

He knew that this seventh brother harbored resentment towards him.

He spoke out of hatred back then, and was subsequently thrown to the battlefield by himself.

He hoped the grim cruelty of the battlefield would make him sober and compliant, but the opposite happened.

This reminded him of Xiao Lianyi, a woman who had once smiled brightly many years ago. In the end, she held her head high and resolutely drank the poisoned wine he had given her, refusing to say anything against her conscience until her death!

The person before me may seem indifferent, but he is just as defiant and unyielding.